USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 50
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In 1896 Dr. Morning was united in marriage to Miss Inez J. Fisher, who was born in Omaha, Nebraska, a daughter of Willard J. and Christiana (MeClure) Fisher, the former born in New York state in 1831 and the latter on Prince
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Edward Island in 1841. On coming to the west Mr. Fisher drove across the country from New York state to Omaha and secured land through grants which were signed by President Buchanan and President Lincoln. This land is still owned by the family. He hauled stone from the Platte river to be used in the construction of his original western home, which is still standing.
Dr. and Mrs. Morning have three children: Eleanor, who was born in Ran- dolph, Nebraska, in 1897, and Elizabeth, born in Randolph, Nebraska, in 1900, both attending high school; and Theodora, born in Marengo, Iowa, in 1907. Mrs. Morning is an active figure in the religious, social and club life of Inde- pendence, and fraternally Dr. Morning is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the blue lodge and chapter in Masonry. To build up rather than to destroy has ever been his broad policy in his teachings and he attacks everything with a contagious enthusiasm. He is responsive to every appeal for help and the high ideals which he cherishes find embodiment in practical effort for their adoption.
PROFESSOR JOHN L. CHERNY.
Professor John L. Cherny, superintendent of schools at Independence, has devoted his entire life to educational work and his efforts in this direction have been attended with excellent results, winning him rank among the leading edu- cators of Iowa. He was born in Osage, this state, in 1882, and is the youngest of the three children of John and Elizabeth (Korney) Cherny, both of whom were natives of Vienna, Austria, born in 1837 and 1840 respectively. In early life the father was a shoe dealer. He came to the United States in 1870 and remained for a brief period in New York, after which he spent a year in Chi- cago. He then came to Iowa and established a shoe business in Osage, which he conducted successfully for about fifteen years. He then turned his attention to the laundry business, which he also conducted in Osage. In religious faith he was a Methodist, and his political allegiance was given the democratic party.
At the usual age Professor Cherny entered the public schools of his native eity, passing through consecutive grades until he became a pupil in the high school. Later he attended the Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, from which he was graduated with the Master of Didactics degree in 1905, while in 1910 he won the Bachelor of Philosophy degree upon graduation from the Chicago University. He took up educational work when a young man of eighteen, teaching in the schools of Mitchell county, Iowa, where he remained for about six years, although he spent part of that time as a student. After a year of teaching in the district schools he was called to duty in town schools and during the last two years of that period was superintendent of graded schools. He was superintendent of the schools at Guttenberg, Iowa, following his graduation from the Chicago University and in 1913 came to Independence to accept the superintendency of the schools of this city. Here he is doing excel- lent work. He has closely studied the methods of prominent educators and. moreover, his initiative spirit enables him to readily adapt himself to condi- tions and meet the needs of an existing situation.
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In 1910 Professor Cherny was united in marriage to Miss Alta Mericle, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Hatcher) Mericle, the former born in Pennsylvania in 1859, and the latter in Orchard, Iowa, in 1861. When a boy Mr. Mericle removed to the west and became a farmer of Mitchell county. For many years he was identified with agricultural interests in this state, but is now living retired in Osage. Mrs. Cherny is a graduate of the Osage high school and of the Cedar Rapids Business College and has attended the Chicago Uni- versity. For two years she taught in the country schools of Mitchell county. By her marriage she became the mother of two children: Elinor, who was born in Guttenberg, Iowa, December 1, 1911; and John Alton, born December 1, 1913.
Professor Cherny has membership with the Masonic fraternity and both he and his wife are connected with the Eastern Star. Practically his entire life has been devoted to educational work and he has never deviated from the high standards which he set up at the outset of his career. He is now a member of the Iowa State Teachers' Association and has been chairman of the superintendents' section. He is also vice president of the Northeast Iowa Teach- ers' Association, is president of the Northeast Iowa Declamatory Association and is a member of the executive committee of the State Debating League. He has attained a most creditable position for one of his years and his ability is widely recognized wherever he is known.
WILLIAM BEATTY.
William Beatty is well known as a prominent and successful farmer of Buchanan connty. He makes his home in Independence, but spends the greater part of his time in supervising his agricultural interests. He was born in Jones county, Iowa, in 1849, and is a son of James Beatty, a native of Ireland. Spending his youthful days under the parental roof. he attended the public schools and afterward remained at home with his parents, giving his father the benefit of his services in the fields. Later he began farming on his own account in the summer months and has three hundred and thirty-six acres of valuable and productive land in Buchanan county. He has made excellent improve- ments upon his property and is now successfully engaged in the raising of Duroc Jersey hogs and Holstein cattle. Ile also raises mules and won a prize on a span of mules at the Buchanan county fair. He now makes his home in Independence, but he spends the major part of his time upon his small farm near the town. Formerly he was associated with A. G. Beatty in the real- estate business for six years. For thirty-two years he has lived upon the farm and belongs to that class of determined and energetic men who carry forward to successful completion whatever they undertake.
In October, 1884, Mr. Beatty was united in marriage to Miss Anna Smith, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Sammel Smith, who came to lowa with his family about 1879. He owned land in this county and resided thereon up to the time of his retirement from active life. He then removed to Moline. Illinois, where he later passed away. His wife is also deceased, her death hav-
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ing occurred at Blairstown, Iowa. In their family were ten children and to Mr. and Mrs. Beatty have been born three children: Emma, who was born in Buchanan county and is the wife of Edward Bushell, living upon one of the William Beatty farms south of the town; Mabel. who is a graduate of the Independence high school and of the State Normal School at Cedar Falls; and Harold, nineteen years of age, who is farming with his father upon the farm south of the town. He married Ila Riehey, of Independence.
Mr. Beatty has always been a stalwart advocate of republican principles since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but has never been an office seeker. He holds membership in the Methodist church and also with the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, and high and honorable principles actuate him in all of life's relations, his course commending him to the confidence and endur- ing regard of those who know him.
GUSTAVUS H. JAKWAY.
Gustavus H. Jakway has lived in Lamont for the last twenty years and was for many years actively engaged in farming in Madison and Buffalo town- ships. For forty years he has owned and operated a threshing machine and has found this undertaking a profitable one. He was also for several years a traveling salesman for C. Aultman & Company of Canton, Ohio. His birth occurred at Belvidere, Boone county, Illinois, January 25, 1846, his parents being George A. and Matilda (Preble) Jakway, both natives of Vermont. They were highly esteemed and respected wherever known and the former was among the most prominent men of early days in this county. A sketch of his life appears elsewhere in this work. Of the children in the family six besides the subject of this review survive, namely: Frank and Fred, twins, residents of Madison and Buffalo townships, respectively ; A. T., of Oelwein, Iowa ; Mary, now Mrs. Spear, a resident of Oklahoma; Emma, a teacher of this county; and Martha, the wife of Harry Schofield of Strawberry Point, Iowa.
Gustavus H. Jakway was reared at Buffalo Grove and attended the publie schools in the pursuit of an education. On the 11th of August, 1862, when a lad of but sixteen years, he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under command of the late Colonel Jed Lake, of Inde- pendence. IIe served for three years in the Western Army and participated in the Red river expedition, the battle of Nashville and in the march through Missouri after "Pap" Price. The general in command was A. J. Smith and Company C was his bodyguard when on a boat on the Red river near Shreve- port. Mr. Jakway was wounded during this detailment by a piece of shell. When his country no longer needed his services he returned home, arriving on the 27th of January, 1866, having been detained in Alabama for some time.
Mr. Jakway then turned his attention to farming in Madison township. He purchased a threshing machine and for forty years has owned and operated a threshing outfit, in this way adding a substantial sum to his income annually. For twenty years he has lived in Lamont, enjoying a large measure of leisure. He still owns two hundred and forty acres of land in MeKenzie county, North
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Dakota, which his eldest son farms. For a number of years Mr. Jakway rep- resented C. Aultman & Son of C'anton, Ohio, upon the road, his territory being northeastern Iowa. He was a popular and energetic salesman and did a good business for his firm in the section of the state which he covered. The rest which he now enjoys is well deserved as his prosperity is the direct result of his energy and sound judgment.
Mr. Jakway married Miss Mary L. Freeman, of Buffalo township, a dangh- ter of E. M. and Emily Freeman, who removed to that township in 1864 and spent the remainder of their lives there. Mrs. Jakway was born January 3, 1847, and died on the 31st of May, 1885, at the age of thirty-eight years, leav- ing four sons: George E., residing upon his father's farm in North Dakota : Albert and Alfred, both farmers of this county: and Harry F .. principal of the Livermore, Iowa, high school. For his second wife Mr. Jakway married Miss Mary Ward, a daughter of L. R. Ward, of Madison township. who arrived in this county in 1856. Mrs. Jakway has three brothers living, who are agricul- turists in Madison township. She became the mother of one son, who died in North Dakota in his seventeenth year. He was a boy of great promise and had an unusually keen mind. especially in mathematics. He was a graduate of the Lamont high school and expected to enter the Upper Iowa University at Fayette.
Mr. and Mrs. Jakway belong to the Methodist Episcopal church at Lamont and their standards of life are the teachings of Christianity. He has always voted the republican ticket and is a stanch supporter of the principles of that party. He is now justice of the peace and has served as postmaster and in various other offices. He is commander of O. S. Fowler Post, No. 346, G. A. R., of Lamont, and finds great pleasure in association with his comrades of the war. Mr. Jakway was but a child of seven years when he accompanied his parents to this county and during the many years that he has resided here he has witnessed remarkable changes, as in a half century the wild prairie land has been developed into a rich and highly cultivated farming section, in the midst of which many thriving towns have come into existence. He himself has done his share in the work of improvement and takes a personal pride in the growth and welfare of the county and the town of Lamont.
WILLIAM C. MILLER, M. D.
Dr. William C. Miller, engaged in the active practice of medicine and surgery in Independence and recognized as one of the leading representatives of the homeopathie school in this section of the state, was born in Buchanan county in 1863, a son of Samuel Miller, a native of Ohio. His youth was spent upon the old homestead farm and when twenty years of age he began its cultivation, devoting two years to tilling the soil. In 1885 he went to Walker, Iowa, where he purchased stock and grain for his father. In the fall of 1885 he went to Yankton, South Dakota, where he spent the winter and in the following spring began farming near Aberdeen, that state, but because of the drought he returned to his father's farm in Towa and spent one year thereon.
DR. WILLIAM C. MILLER
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In 1887 he began the study of medicine and was graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic College, now the Hahnemann Medical College, in 1891. Follow- ing his graduation he located for practice in Edgewood, Iowa, where he re- mained for four and a half years and then came to Independence, where he purchased the practice of Dr. Howard. Here he has been located continuously since and his pronounced ability has brought to him a large and growing prac- tice to which he devotes practically his entire time. He closely studies the dif- ferent phases of professional work, is careful in the diagnosis of his cases and is seldom, if ever, at fault in anticipating the outcome of diseases. He is con- stantly reading along the line of his profession and his knowledge is now comprehensive and exact. At the present time he is serving as health officer of Washington township.
In February, 1893, Dr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Cora Held, who was born at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and spent practically all of her life prior to her marriage in Chicago. Her father, Adolph C. Held, is a native of Canton, Ohio, and her mother, who bore the maiden name of Ella Williamson, was also born in Ohio but lived for many years in Buchanan county, to which place her parents had removed during her early girlhood. Mr. Held devoted his early life to the molder's trade and won advancement that brought him eventually to the position of foreman of the Dearborn Foundry of Chicago. He is now living retired and makes his home in Paw Paw, Michigan. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for troops, going to the front from Ohio together with six brothers, all of whom were members of the same regiment. One of the number was killed in battle. Mr. Held was very active in republican politics but occupied no political office, preferring always to devote his entire attention to his business. The iron work of the new Northwestern depot in Chicago was the last work which he superintended as foreman. In the Held family were three children, of whom Mrs. Miller is the eldest and by her marriage she has become the mother of two sons: Harold R., who was born in Edgewood, Iowa, in 1894 and is now a student in the Independence high school; and Walter S., who was born in Independence in 1899 and is now attending school.
Dr. Miller is a democrat in his political views but has never been an aspirant for public office. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church and along professional lines is connected with the State Homeopathic Association. The high ideals which he cherishes find embodiment in practical effort for their adoption and because of the innate refinement of his nature he rejects every thing opposed to good taste. Mrs. Miller is quite prominent in social circles.
EARLE P. BRINTNALL.
Earle P. Brintnall, identified with agricultural interests in Buchanan county, was born September 19, 1882, near Winthrop, where he still makes his home, a son of E. P. and Mary E. Brintnall. Extended mention is made of the father on another page of this work. The mother was born in Pennsylvania and in early life was brought to Iowa by her parents, the journey being made in wagons across the country in 1858, at which time they took up their abode near Hickory Vol. II-25
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cemetery. On Thanksgiving day of 1880 she became the bride of E. P. Brint- nall. She was very prominent in church work and was highly esteemed and loved by all who knew her. She died in January, 1912, and was laid to rest in Hickory cemetery.
Earle P. Brintnall completed his education by graduation from the Iowa State College with the class of 1906, at which time the degree of B. S. A. was conferred upon him. Through the succeeding winter he taught in the Massa- chusetts Agricultural College at Amherst, Massachusetts, and from 1908 until 1910 was a teacher in the agricultural college at Manhattan, Kansas. Because of the condition of his health he took up the occupation of farming and is one of the most progressive and seientifie farmers of his part of the state. He owns an excellent tract of land near Winthrop and he has a fine herd of graded Guernseys and also some pure bred stock. He is likewise building up a good herd of big type Poland China hogs. He keeps in touch with the most advanced thought and methods of agriculture and his efforts result in splendid achieve- ments.
On the 1st of September, 1908, at Winthrop, Mr. Brintnall was united in marriage to Miss Pearl E. Thompson, a daughter of Dr. and Mrs. G. B. Thomp- son. They have one child, Philip Earle, who was born August 7, 1911. The parents are members of the Congregational church and in Buchanan county they are widely and favorably known, having the high regard and esteem of all with whom they come in contact. The high ideals which Mr. Brintnall cherishes find embodiment in practical effort for their adoption. To build up rather than to destroy is ever his broad policy and he attacks everything with a contagious enthusiasm. In community matters he is responsive to every appeal and ranks among the leading and valued citizens of his part of the state.
HERBERT ALLISON ALLEN.
Herbert Allison Allen, head of the commercial department of the Cedar Rapids distriet of the Iowa Telephone Company, has throughout his entire business career been connected with this corporation and through successive promotions has been advanced to his present position of trust and responsi- bility. Buchanan county numbers him among her native sons. He was born on the 4th of April, 1871, and now makes his home at Kenwood Park in Lin county. He is a son of Joel Oliver and Mary Jane Allen and the family is connected in a collateral line with Colonel Ethan Allen, the famous commander of the "Green Mountain" boys in the Revolutionary war. In the summer of 1855 Lyman Squires and Angeline (Burlingame) Allen, grandparents of Her- bert A. Allen, removed from Ticonderoga, New York. to Iowa, settling in Buchanan county, where they cast in their lot with the pioneer residents. The former was a school teacher and became an active factor in the early educa- tional development of the county. For a number of years he filled the office of supervisor and was also justice of the peace for a considerable period, his deci- sions being strictly fair and impartial. His son, Joel Oliver Allen, was the third in a family of nine children, two sons and seven daughters. He was brought by
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his parents to Iowa and took up his abode in Homer township upon the home- stead claim of one hundred and sixty acres which Lyman S. Allen secured.
As the years went on Joel Oliver Allen took an active part in township affairs and filled a number of township offices, including that of clerk, in which position he continued for several years. On the 10th of August, 1862, he wedded Mary Jane McGary, and they became the parents of four sons and five daughters, of whom four are yet living. The mother was born August 16, 1841, and in June. 1859. came from Norwich, Vermont, to Iowa with her mother, three sisters and a brother. She was among the first teachers in the county and continued in school work for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Joel Oliver Allen began their domestic life upon a farm, where they resided until the death of Mr. Allen, occasioned by typhoid pneumonia, on the 9th of November, 1877. He had purchased and cultivated a large tract of land in Homer township and was numbered among the prosperous farmers of that section. He was always fond of fishing and hunting, and when a young man killed the only bear ever known to have been killed in Buchanan county. In November, 1878, a year after her husband's death, Mrs. Allen removed to Independence, where she has since resided. She is the owner of two farms in Ilomer township and from her properties derives a substantial annual income. She has been very active in club work and in charitable organizations and in the different societies with which she is affiliated has been frequently called to office.
Herbert Allison Allen, although born upon a farm in Buchanan county, was but seven years of age when his mother took up her abode in Independence, where he pursued his education in the public schools, supplemented by a year's study in the Iowa State College at Ames. His initial step in the business world was made as an operator for the Iowa Union Telephone Company. Undoubt- edly one of the features in his growing success is the fact that he has never dissipated his energies over a wide field, but has always continued in the line of labor in which he entered in early manhood. He has filled all the inter- mediate positions from that of operator up to head of the commercial depart- ment for the Cedar Rapids district, which includes eastern Iowa, small por- tions of western Illinois and Wisconsin, and also southern Minnesota.
On the 2d of October, 1895, at Independence, Mr. Allen was united in mar- riage to Miss Jessie M. Marinus, a daughter of Thomas J. and Sarah (Whait) Marinus. The father was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1827 and in 1854 arrived in Independence. He was elected county recorder and held the office for two terms. He was also deputy clerk of the district court, and he engaged in the ice business for twenty years, winning recognition as one of the representative business men of the city. He was married in Independence to Sarah Whait, who came to this county in the early '50s. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have become the parents of a son and daughter, Herbert M. and Angela Odette.
In politics Mr. Allen is a stalwart republican, but, while never remiss in the duties of citizenship, he has never been an office seeker. His chief activity outside of business has been in the field of military service. About 1895 he became a member of the Iowa National Guard and in 1898 when the war with Spain was inaugurated offered his services to the government and enlisted as captain of Company E, Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the regiment was mustered out in May, 1899. He spent five
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months in Cuba, received the surrender and occupied the forts guarding Havana. He was twice provost marshal of the Seventh Army Corps and after the war he was elected successively major, lieutenant colonel, colonel and bri- gadier general and with the latter rank is now commander of the Iowa Brigade. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen, the Knights of Pythias and the Masons. He holds membership in the Spanish-American War Veterans, the Military Order of the Spanish-American War, and was honored by his old regiment by being made a life member of the National Rifle Association. General Allen has won his honors, which he wears with becoming modesty. When at the head of his brigade, however, he is every inch the soldier and has taken just pride in bringing the military organization of the state up to its present high standard.
W. H. ZIMPFER.
W. H. Zimpfer, who owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 34 and 35, Cono township, is a worthy native son of Buchanan county and has spent his entire life within its borders. His birth occurred in Cono township on the 20th of February. 1866, his parents being Adam and Caroline Zimpfer, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work.
W. H. Zimpfer was here reared and educated and remained on the home farm until twenty-three years of age. He then cultivated a rented tract of land for one season and subsequently purchased forty acres, while later he bought an additional traet of one hundred and twenty acres, so that his farm embraces a quarter section. The property lies on sections 34 and 35, Cono township, and has been excellently improved since it came into his possession. He has met with well-merited success in his farming operations and also raises Percheron horses, shorthorn cattle and Duroe Jersey hogs, this branch of his business like- wise proving a gratifying source of income.
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